BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 146
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 146 (Dickinson)
As Amended May 2, 2011
Majority vote
NATURAL RESOURCES 5-3 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Chesbro, Brownley, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, |
| |Dickinson, Monning, | |Bradford, Charles |
| |Skinner | |Calderon, Campos, Davis, |
| | | |Gatto, Hall, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Solorio |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Knight, Grove, Halderman |Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, |
| | | |Nielsen, Smyth, Wagner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Increases the membership of the Air Resources Board
(ARB) from 11 to 13, requires the additional members to be: 1)
a board member from specified air districts in the Sacramento
federal nonattainment area; and, 2) an expert in climate change.
Specifically, this bill increases ARB to 13 members and
requires one member to be a board member from the Sacramento
federal nonattainment area for ozone in either the Sacramento,
Placer, Yolo-Solano, Feather River, or El Dorado air district
and one member to have training and experience in climate change
and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes ARB and provides for appointment of 11 members by
the Governor on the basis of interest and ability in the field
of air pollution control, understanding of the needs of the
general public in connection with air pollution problems, and
additional specific qualifications. All members serve at the
pleasure of the Governor and are subject to confirmation by
the Senate. Members serve part-time, with the exception of
the Chair, who is appointed by the Governor and serves
full-time. ARB's primary duties are controlling motor vehicle
emissions, coordinating activities of air districts for the
purposes of the federal Clean Air Act, and implementing the
California Global Warming Solutions Act ÝAB 32 (Núñez and
AB 146
Page 2
Pavley), Chapter 488, Statutes of 2006].
2)Establishes the following specific qualifications for board
members:
a) One with training and experience in automotive
engineering or a closely related field;
b) One with training and experience in science,
agriculture, or law;
c) One who is a physician and surgeon, or health effects
expert;
d) One with experience in air pollution control, or meeting
the qualifications of one of the three categories listed
above;
e) Two public members; and,
f) One board member from each of the following air
districts:
i) South Coast Air Quality Management District
(SCAQMD);
ii) Bay Area Quality Management District (BAAQMD);
iii) San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District
(SJVAPCD);
iv) San Diego County Air Pollution Control District;
and,
v) Any other district.
3)Establishes county air pollution control districts in every
county, unless the entire county is included within the
Antelope Valley Air Quality Management District, the BAAQMD,
the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District, the SCAQMD,
the SJVAPCD, a regional district, or a unified district.
Requires air districts to adopt and enforce rules and
regulations to achieve and maintain the state and federal
ambient air quality standards in all areas affected by
non-vehicular emission sources under their jurisdiction.
AB 146
Page 3
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, minor annual costs to ARB in the tens of thousands of
dollars to pay per diem costs of the two additional board
members.
COMMENTS : The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has
designated the Sacramento region as a serious nonattainment area
for ozone and particulate matter. According to supporters,
Sacramento is the most populous nonattainment region in the
state without a designated representative on the ARB. Mobile
sources are the largest contributor to air pollution in the
Sacramento region, so regulation of mobile sources is of vital
interest to the local districts in their efforts to meet federal
air pollution standards. In addition, since passage of the
Global Warming Solutions Act, ARB has taken on significant new
duties in the area of climate change.
In 2005, the Legislature approved AB 1221 (Jones), which was
similar to this bill. As passed by the Assembly, AB 1221 added
an air district member from the Sacramento region to the ARB.
The bill was amended in the Senate to also add an expert on the
effects of greenhouse gases on climate change. AB 1221 was
vetoed by the Governor on the basis that the current composition
of the ARB allowed for representation from Sacramento and an
expert on greenhouse gases.
Analysis Prepared by : Lawrence Lingbloom / NAT. RES. / (916)
319-2092
FN: 0000726